If you’re itching to hit the pavement this summer, there’s perhaps no better year to take a spin on Route 66. In honor of the iconic highway turning 100, cities and towns across the U.S. are celebrating throughout 2026, with official national events kicking off this week.
Road trippers coasting along the famed thoroughfare won’t be bored: Route 66 boasts more than 250 sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places, including diners, bridges, and historic hotels. But a century ago, it was just a patchwork of local, state, and national roadways made largely from materials like dirt, gravel, and bricks. Only 800 of its initial 2,448 miles were paved — it would take another 12 years to complete the rest.
However, the route, also known as the Mother Road, was groundbreaking for its time. Its primary predecessor, the Lincoln Highway, opened the door to cross-country travel, but mostly for wealthy folks who could afford the pricey vehicles of the 1910s. Route 66’s debut coincided with the automobile boom of the 1920s, which helped lower the cost of long-distance trips and enabled more drivers to get on the road.
When it received its official designation in the summer of 1926, the U.S. 66 Highway Association described it as “the shortest, best, and most scenic route from Chicago through St. Louis to Los Angeles,” per the National Park Service. It also served as a lifeline for residents in rural communities. In the eight states it passes through — Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California — it increased traffic to small towns, which helped boost population growth and economic development across the West.
In the ’30s, Route 66 became a saving grace for those looking to migrate westward and escape the Dust Bowl in the south-central U.S. This plight was famously documented in John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath.
“Highway 66 is the main migrant road,” he wrote, adding, “66 is the path of a people in flight, refugees from dust and shrinking land.”
During World War II, particularly after western states were identified as ideal locations for military training bases, the country relied on the highway to transport troops and defense supplies. And after the war was over, Route 66 experienced a tourism boom — inspiring the lyric “Get Your Kicks on Route 66” by jazz musician Bobby Troup.
And for those of us over a certain age, who can forget Martin Milner and George Maharis as two young adventurers who drove the road in their Chevrolet Corvette on Friday nights from 1960-1964. Despite the name of the series, most episodes did NOT take place on the historic road, but in 25 different U.S. states, all on location. TV viewers were treated to episodes filmed in Carson City, Los Angeles, Toronto, Santa Fe, Reno, Tucson, Dallas and many more locales.
For the first time, Americans were beginning to think about automotive travel on a mass basis. This is a period when Americans had vacations, thanks to the boom in manufacturing and unionization drives that helped people earn a decent salary. And they wanted to drive west in their new car on their vacation.
Many of the highway’s now-nostalgic rest stops thrived during the ’40s and ’50s — think diners,
gas stations, and convenient accommodation such as motels, auto camps, and motor courts. But 1956 marked the beginning of the end of Route 66’s glory days. The Federal-Aid Highway Act sparked the creation of nationwide interstate highways, which provided faster ways to cut across the U.S. but were often located away from small towns. By 1985, The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials voted to remove Route 66’s highway signs, and it was officially decommissioned. recognizing its historical and cultural significance, the U.S.
Congress passed the Route 66 Study Act in 1990, leading to the National Park Service’s Route 66 Special Resource Study U.S. National Park Service. This effort resulted in the creation of the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program, aimed at preserving significant structures, features, and artifacts associated with the highway U.S. National Park Service. Today, surviving stretches, museums, and roadside attractions continue to celebrate Route 66 as a symbol of Americana and the nation’s automotive heritage
Last week, the centennial’s official kickoff event featured the National Route 66 Centennial Telegraph Ball, a concert, and a parade in Springfield, Missouri — and the nationwide festivities will include everything from an auto show to a “light capsule.”
Route 66 remains a testament to the evolution of American transportation, the rise of automobile culture, and the enduring allure of the open road. Its legacy continues to inspire travelers and historians alike, reflecting both the economic and cultural transformations of the 20th century.
Happy 100th Birthday, Route 66!
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Oftentimes, a mother would start preparing a hope chest from the time her daughter was a young age and slowly build the collection as the years went by. The chests contained many things like silverware, china, linens, clothing, and jewelry that were considered “essentials” for a young woman about to start a new life in marriage. It was also standard practice to include family heirlooms and mementos. Things like albums or photographs, letters or treasured objects passed down through the generations that may not have much monetary or practical value – but in which the young woman could find comfort.
In the early 1900s, hope chests became a national tradition through the rise of the Lane Cedar Chest. Founded in 1912, Lane used mass production and marketing to turn cedar-lined chests into a common rite of passage for young women across America.
Tattoos were used to mark slaves, criminals, and gladiators, and the Latin word “stigma” was used to mean a brand, or scar–any permanent mark left on a person’s skin. When French and British traders met native people, they often recorded the markings on their bodies, instead of their names in trading logs. During the Revolutionary War, colonial sailors decorated themselves with symbols of their newborn country–the “goddess” Columbia, the face of George Washington, eagle with sheaves, or the American flag. 
morale booster for weary cowboys. Brewed strong and black, coffee provided much-needed energy for long, grueling days. Without fancy equipment, cowboys simply boiled grounds over the campfire, sometimes letting the grounds settle or straining them through a bandana. Often, they used the same pot day after day, thus contributing to the unique flavor of cowboy coffee. (Note: I enjoy a cup of coffee first thing in the a.m. but require my hazelnut creamer or during the holidays, pumpkin pie spice!!!)
Dried Fruit, like raisins, apples, or peaches, served as portable treats for the hard-working cowboys. They provided a rare sweetness and vitamins on the trail, breaking up the monotony of the constant savory dishes.
Packed with protein, it could be eaten on the go, making it perfect for busy days in the saddle, providing energy when time or conditions make cooking impossible.
porridges, grits, or mush. These staples reflected the influence of Southern and Mexican cooking. Cornbread, in particular, was a favorite, easily baked over coals, while rice provided a filling base, helping stretch meager rations even further.
Dried Chili Peppers and Spices were essential for livening up bland trail food. Mexican vaqueros, in particular, brought the tradition of adding heat and flavor with chilis and seasonings–particularly in the colder weather–transforming meat or beans into a satisfying meal and adding a taste of home to the trail.
Coming next month…
Simply having a roof doesn’t necessarily make a structure a true covered bridge, though. Underneath every authentic covered bridge is its truss system, a network of beams, often in the shape of triangles, that distributes the weight of the bridge and the load it carries on its deck. The trusses, though rugged in appearance, require precision, and building one often took a whole village — quite literally. Dozens, if not hundreds, of skilled workers from the community were involved: sawyers to prepare the rough-cut logs, timber framers to properly place the beams, and stonemasons to build the abutments, to name a few. Throughout the 19th century, covered bridges popped up wherever rivers and streams needed crossing — especially in the Northeast and Midwest. Each bridge showcased the craftsmanship of local builders and engineers, many of whom developed their own unique truss designs, like the Burr Arch or the Town Lattice.
couples sharing a covert kiss under the roof, inspiring the name “kissing bridges.” It’s an old tradition from the horse-and-buggy days, when a boy would stop halfway across a covered bridge where it was quiet to give his girl a kiss.
Kansas. It’s nearing Christmas and the Circle of Friends Quilting group is planning the Annual Christmas Quilt Giveaway. Here, the quilts are stitched with 
There were two waves of the flu in the spring and fall. Though called the Spanish flu, it didn’t originate in Spain. They really don’t know for sure where it originated. Three suggestions are East Asia, Europe, or even Kansas. Why Kansas? It was March 9, 1918, at Fort Riley, Kansas, where 26,000 troops were stationed. They had several thousand horses and mules that deposited large amounts of manure. The problem arose of disposing of it. They decided burning it would be a good idea. March 9th brought a harsh dust storm, the combination of sand, dust, and manure ash stung the skin and offended the nose. The storm was so bad that it nearly blocked out the sun. Two days later, on March 11th, 100 men reported to the infirmary, all complaining of the same ailments of a bad cold. Whether or not this was the point of origin of the 1918 influenza that took over 600,000 American lives, we will probably never know. The epidemic spread not only within the U.S. but the abroad as well. By November 1918, the whole world was affected by the growing pandemic.
“Next stop, Pine Ridge. Twenty minutes lay over only,” the conductor bellowed as he passed through the car.